Mike Gill
Mike is a Portfolio Manager at Cornerstone Advisory, a Boutique Wealth Management firm headquartered in the Baltimore Area. In this role, he is responsible for initiating and managing client relationships.
Prior to joining Cornerstone Advisory, Mike was a Business Development Analyst with Bessemer Trust.
He currently serves on the Board of Maryland Family Network, as well as the Clemson University Club of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Mike earned an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School at the University of Maryland, and a B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University.
Robert H. Edwards Jr.
Mr. Edwards focuses on working with companies who are driving the energy transition. Rob is an energy industry executive and strategic advisor on global Next-Gen energy solutions and investments. Rob brings more than 20 years of diverse leadership and advisory experience supporting senior decision makers in the private sector (JPMorgan Chase, Tesla, Edison Mission Energy, DTE Energy), and in government (Department of Energy Loan Programs Office). As a recognized thought leader in Next-Generation Energy Solutions, he brings together public and private stakeholders to develop, structure, and implement multibillion-dollar energy projects in the United States and around the globe, furthering society's transformation to a decentralized, decarbonized, durable, digital grid.
As a strategic visionary and senior legal counsel, Rob has closed more than $15 billion in project financings and M&A energy and infrastructure transactions in South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and the United States. He has significant experience facilitating key transactions in the energy storage, renewable energy, electric vehicle, conventional energy, and utility markets for corporations, investors and governments throughout the U.S. and globally.
Rob excels in working cross-functionally with legal, finance, sales, and operations to develop innovative solutions that help clients and customers achieve sustainability strategies worldwide. In 2010, Rob was selected by Vantage Point Partners to participate in its 100 Clean Tech Leaders held at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah and in 2015 Rob was selected as one of 21 nationwide leaders to participate in the National Renewable Energy Lab's Executive Energy Leadership Program.
Rob proudly served as a Senior Presidential Appointee (non-career SES) at the Department of Energy during the Obama Administration and again with the DOE Loan Programs Office where he led the Outreach and Business Development Division.
Brittney R. Powell, Esq.
Brittney Powell is an Attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Fox Rothschild LLP, where she advises clients navigating complex international trade, corporate, and environmental matters. She is an ardent advocate and promoter of sustainability and the adoption of clean energy and technologies.
Brittney also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Operation International Gift of Knowledge, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides access to education to children in rural Uganda. She also maintains active memberships in the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment and various bar associations.
Brittney was raised in Hampton, Virginia, and resides with her husband in Riverdale, Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Virginia, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond. She also completed an executive-level program to earn a Master of Science in Natural Resources with a concentration in global sustainability.
Dr. Salvo Vitale
With a strong background of over 15 years of legal experience in the areas of corporate governance, business law and extraordinary transactions, Dr. Vitale has worked in the fields of international commercial law and renewable energy. Dr. Vitale is responsible for the organization of the company in terms of general strategy, commercial development, operational structure and financial results. In addition to the above, he oversees all contracts, business commitments, formal legal arrangements and agreements for the portfolio of projects in the US and Europe. Dr. Vitale joined the Toto Group in 2011 and previously practiced law in Rome, Italy at Bonelli Erede law firm. Salvo attended Guido Carli International University (LUISS) in Rome, Italy, where he earned his Master Degree in Law and PhD in Commercial Law.
Whitney Washington Boles
Whitney Boles is managing director for customer products for Constellation. In this role she leads the customer products and portfolio integration teams that manage new and existing power and natural gas products.
Prior to her current role, Whitney was senior manager for offsite renewables. In that role she was responsible for helping commercial and industrial customers achieve their sustainability goals through Constellation’s offsite renewable solutions and the development of new offsite renewable products. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff to the CEO of Constellation and the President and CEO of Exelon Generation in which role she managed the operations of the Constellation Leadership Committee and drove the priorities of the executives, including responsibility for the annual Constellation business plan, among other initiatives. Whitney joined Constellation in 2014 as an in-house transactional attorney supporting Constellation’s wholesale energy business.
Prior to joining Constellation, Whitney practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom, focusing on energy project development, financing and mergers and acquisitions.
Whitney received her Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard College and her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.
Whitney resides in Baltimore County, MD with her husband and children.
Dr. Samuel I. Williams
Samuel Isaiah Williams was born in Washington, D.C. He was selected by the Chief Justice of the United States to serve as a Supreme Court Page, graduating from the Capitol Page High School, located in the Library of Congress. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Master of Business and Public Administration (Finance), and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.
Samuel worked in policy and legislative affairs, appointed as a budget/policy official in the White House Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He reviewed legislative proposals, agency policies, programs and budgets; developed issue papers and testimony for the Director of OMB and senior White House officials; and made policy recommendations to the President of the United States.
He served as Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, advising and providing counsel on public policy issues affecting consumers, the public and private sectors to the Assistant Secretary and Deputy, also coordinating policies, budgets and plans with OMB and Congressional authorization and appropriation committees.
Samuel also occupied business development, marketing, and strategic planning positions in the Operations and International departments at Sprint Communications. As Regional Manager of Government Affairs, he interacted with state Governors and legislators, analyzing bills and testifying before the Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington legislatures, and addressing issues with state regulatory agencies.
In addition, he worked in government affairs for the Association of Public Television Stations and TCI Cable Communications; Network Strategies/ Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Inc. in telecommunications restoration in the event of natural and manmade disasters; the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, McGraw Edison Company, and Department of the Navy in energy and electric power, and the California Public Utilities Commission in energy conservation.
Samuel also worked in education computer technology with Internet-based firms, interacting with university officials and high school superintendents, also serving as guest lecturer at colleges and universities on public policy issues. He was an Adjunct Professor at Montgomery College for five years providing instruction on the organization and function of government institutions, business management, and public administration.
He was recipient of the Walden University, Laureate International Universities, School of Public Policy and Administration 2015 Dissertation Award, Engaging Citizens in Democratic Governance and the Decision-Making Process with Congressional Committees. He also had a Letter to the Editor on the politics of public policy published by the Washington Post newspaper. Further, Samuel served in the U.S. Army at the rank of Captain, Battalion Operations Officer, in the Republic of Vietnam, awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Paul G. Pinsky
Paul Pinsky was appointed by Governor Moore to be the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration and he took office on January 18, 2023.
Prior to his appointment as director, he was elected to the Maryland state senate seven times. As a senator, he chaired the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. He has also served on the Maryland Commision on Climate Change since its inception.
Pinsky has been a long-time champion in the fight to address climate change and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. He is the principal author of dozens of environmental laws that have helped shape most major state environmental policies in Maryland over the last two decades.
As senator, he sponsored the landmark Climate Solutions Now legislation, passed in 2022, which requires Maryland to slash emissions 60% by 2031 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. He was also the lead sponsor of: the watershed 2006 Healthy Air Act which included mandating Maryland’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); legislation codifying the Climate Commission; and the 2009 and 2016 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Acts. He also co-sponsored the Clean Energy Jobs Act to require Maryland to obtain at least 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Paul Pinsky served on the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission) and was a major architect of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future which aims to transform Maryland’s education system.
He is also a longtime advocate for social, economic and environmental justice.
Director Pinsky worked in the education field for over 40 years, teaching high school history, advocating for teachers and their working conditions and consulting and developing policy focused on improving teacher quality.
Dr. Eric D. Wachsman
William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research
Distinguished University Professor - University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Eric D Wachsman, Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, is the William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research and a Distinguished University Professor with appointments in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Wachsman is President of The Electrochemical Society (ECS) and Editor-in-Chief of Ionics. He is a Fellow of both ECS and the American Ceramic Society; elected member of the World Academy of Ceramics; the recipient of the 2017 Carl Wagner Award from ECS; the 2014 Sir William Grove Award from the International Association for Hydrogen Energy; the 2014 Pfeil Award from The Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining; the Outstanding Invention of 2013 award from the University of Maryland Office of Technology Licensing; the 2012 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition Award; and the 2012 HTM Outstanding Achievement Award from ECS.
His research is focused on solid ion-conducting materials and electrocatalysts, and includes the development of solid-state batteries, solid oxide fuel cells, ion-transport membrane reactors, and solid-state gas sensors, using advanced ion conducting materials. He has more than 270 publications and 35 patents/patent applications on ionic and electronic transport in materials, and their catalytic properties, and device performance, and to date three companies have been founded based on these technologies.